Integrated intravenous (IV) clamp and power supply

ABSTRACT

An intravenous (IV) pole assembly includes a non-conductive support element, distribution rails respectively disposed along a length of the non-conductive support element and a clamping element. The distribution rails are respectively configured for power distribution along the length of the non-conductive support element. The clamping element includes a hinged clamp, which is attachable to the non-conductive support element at an attachment point defined along the length of the non-conductive support element, and a connector by which power is selectively transmittable from the distribution rails to a powered device supportable on the hinged clamp.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.14/874,898, which was filed on Oct. 5, 2015. The entire contents of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/874,898 are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to intravenous (IV) poles and, moreparticularly, to an IV poles with an integrated clamp and power supply.

IV poles are used in the medical industry to suspend bags of fluid forintroduction into a patient through an IV line. The current IV poledesign was originally developed in the 1940's when patients had anaverage of two different IV bags attached to them. However, withadvances in medical technology, the average patient can have far highernumbers of IV features attached to them. In some cases, such asintensive care units (ICUs) of hospitals, a given patient can have nineor ten IV features attached to him/her. Meanwhile, due to furtheradvances, IV gravity feeds have been replaced by infusion pumps, whichare computer-controlled pumps that control the flow rate and amount offluids being introduced into the patient along each IV line.

A problem faced by health care professionals, such as hospital nurses,is that even on the most modern IV poles, power is supplied to theindividual features (i.e., pumps) through conventional 110V outlets.This leads to a profusion of different alternative current (AC) linesand transformers being plugged into a limited number of power outletsand thus necessitates the use of power strips. This is not only adangerous situation, since plugs can accidentally slip out of theiroutlet, leading to drains on the built-in backup batteries in the IVpumps, but the multiplication of cords leads to lost time in criticalsituations when a patient must be moved. Indeed, during patientmovement, cords for the pumps all have to be located, untangled anddisconnected from their respective outlets, carefully wrapped to avoidhaving anyone step on them or to avoid losing them, and then reinsertedinto new AC outlets in the new patient location.

The time required for this process can be significant when a patient hasseveral different IV lines and presents unnecessary danger when patientmovement must be done as quickly as possible.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an intravenous (IV)pole assembly is provided and includes a non-conductive support element,distribution rails respectively disposed along a length of thenon-conductive support element and a clamping element. The distributionrails are respectively configured for power distribution along thelength of the non-conductive support element. The clamping elementincludes a hinged clamp, which is attachable to the non-conductivesupport element at an attachment point defined along the length of thenon-conductive support element, and a connector by which power isselectively transmittable from the distribution rails to a powereddevice supportable on the hinged clamp.

According to another embodiment, an intravenous (IV) devicetransportation apparatus is provided and includes an IV device, which isoperable when supplied with direct current (DC), a non-conductivesupport element that includes a movable base portion and an upperportion extending from the base portion, a power converter disposed inthe base portion, distribution rails respectively electrically coupledto the power converter and disposed along a length of the upper portionand a clamping element. The clamping element includes a hinged clamp, onwhich the IV device is supportable and which is attachable to thenon-conductive support element at an attachment point defined along thelength of the upper portion and a connector by which DC is selectivelytransmittable to the IV device from the power converter via thedistribution rails.

According to another embodiment, a method of transporting an intravenous(IV) device transportation apparatus is provided. The method includesclamping a hinged clamp, on which IV devices are supported, to anon-conductive support element, converting alternating current (AC) intodirect current (DC) for operating the IV devices in the non-conductivesupport element and distributing and selectively transmitting DC fromthe power converter to the IV devices along the non-conductive supportelement.

According to another embodiment, an intravenous (IV) devicetransportation apparatus power system is provided. The system includes afloor that in turn includes embedded power distribution elements. Thesystem further includes an IV device, which is operable when suppliedwith power, a non-conductive support element that includes a baseportion, which is movable along the floor, and an upper portionextending from the base portion, a receiver disposed in the base portionto be receptive of power from the power distribution elements,distribution rails respectively electrically coupled to the receiver anddisposed along a length of the upper portion and a clamping element. Theclamping element includes a hinged clamp, which is attachable to thenon-conductive support element at an attachment point defined along thelength of the non-conductive support element, and a connector by whichpower is selectively transmittable to the IV device from the receivervia the distribution rails.

According to yet another embodiment, a method of operating anintravenous (IV) device transportation apparatus power system isprovided. The method includes clamping a hinged clamp, on which IVdevices are supported, to a non-conductive support element, embeddingpower distribution elements in a floor, receiving power for operatingthe IV devices in the non-conductive support element and distributingand selectively transmitting the received power to the IV devices alongthe non-conductive support element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The forgoing and other features, and advantages ofthe invention are apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intravenous (IV) devicetransportation apparatus in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an IV device supportable on the IVdevice transportation apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a non-conductive support element in accordancewith embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a movable base member of thenon-conductive support element of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a clamping element and an upperportion of the non-conductive support element of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side schematic illustration of a plunger of the clampingelement of FIG. 5 in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a rear-side view of the clamping element of FIG. 5 inaccordance with embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a front-side view of the clamping element of FIG. 5 inaccordance with embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a not-to-scale, slightly perspective illustration of an IVdevice transportation apparatus in use in accordance with embodiments;and

FIG. 10 is a not-to-scale, slightly perspective illustration of an IVdevice transportation apparatus power system in accordance withembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Pumps on intravenous (IV) poles generally operate using direct current(DC) power and include a DC power outlet. As will be described below,multiple aspects of IV pump design are combined with centralizedalternating current (AC) to DC power conversion and DC powerdistribution to thereby eliminate a need for AC/DC conversion atindividual endpoints. This in turn eliminates redundancy, reducesoverall power consumption and also greatly reduces heat generation andnoise, all of which are desirable advantages in a hospital situation.

As a particular result of the combination, an IV pole is provided thatincludes an integrated AC/DC power converter, a DC power distribution“strip” that runs through and along the center of the IV pole and aclamp that can slide up and down the IV pole. When the clamp is attachedand tightened to the IV pole, the clamp can secure a particular IV pumpto the IV pole at a particular vertical location and can securelycontact the DC power distribution network within the IV pole by way of aDC connector (e.g., of a standard 2.5 mm type) that can plug into the IVpump. As will be explained, the clamp, plug and pump can be removed fromthe IV pole with one operation as a single, integrated unit, and then byreattached to another IV pole in a single set of motions. This greatlyreduces the time it takes to move IV pumps from one IV pole to anotherand also reduces the amount of clutter and the number of operations thata nurse or other healthcare professional must perform in order to shiftIV pumps from one IV pole to another IV pole.

With reference to FIGS. 1-8, an IV device transportation apparatus 10 isprovided and will be referred to hereinafter as an “IV devicetransportation apparatus 10” or simply as an “apparatus 10.” Theapparatus 10 includes one or more IV devices 20, which are each operablewhen supplied with DC power, a non-conductive support element 30, apower converter 40 (see FIG. 4), distribution rails 50 (see FIG. 5) anda clamping element 60 (see FIGS. 5-8). The IV device 20 may be anyelectrical IV device including, but not limited to, an IV pump and amonitor.

The IV device 20 may have a body 22 that is supportable by the clampingelement 60, a control portion 23 by which the IV device 20 iscontrollable by an operator, an operable portion 24 and a local powersource 25. The operable portion 24 is formed to execute pumpingoperations in the case of the IV device 20 being the IV pump ormonitoring operations in the case of the IV device 20 being the monitor.The local power source 25 may be provided as a replaceable orrechargeable battery that can be used to continually power the IV device20 when power is unavailable from the power converter 40 and thedistribution rails 50.

With reference to FIGS. 3-5, the non-conductive support element 30includes a movable base portion 31 and an upper portion 32. The movablebase portion 31 may be provided in multiple configurations that offerstable support for the upper portion 32 and which allow for mobility ofthe apparatus 10 as a whole. In accordance with one embodiment, themovable base portion 31 may be provided as a tripod with a central hub310, three legs 311 extending outwardly and downwardly from the centralhub 310, three wheel elements 312 respectively disposed at distal endsof the three legs 311 and three couplings 313 by which each of the wheelelements 312 are coupled to a corresponding one of the legs 311. Asshown in FIG. 4, the three legs 311 may be generally, uniformly angledwith respect to each other and may have similar respective lengths asmeasured from the central hub 310.

The upper portion 32 extends upwardly from the central hub 310 of themovable base portion 31 and is configured to provide support for atleast one or more IV devices 20. Thus, particularly, in the case wheremultiple IV devices 20 are supported on the upper portion 32, the upperportion 32 should be configured to permit an evenly weighted arrangementof the at least one or more IV devices 20 to avoid risks of theapparatus 10 toppling over. In any case, dimensions of the movable baseportion 31 may also be variable to decrease such toppling risks. Thatis, the legs 311 may be extending radially outwardly by a sufficientamount such that a center of gravity of the apparatus 10 remains withina predefined range even when multiple IV devices 20 are supported on oneside of the upper portion 32. Moreover, in accordance with furtherembodiments, the wheel elements 312 can be tightened or otherwiseconfigured to provide resistance to certain types of de-stabilizingmovements, for example.

In general, the upper portion 32 may include a central, electricallynon-conductive member 320 (hereinafter referred to as a “central member320”) and first and second lateral, electrically non-conductive members321 (hereinafter referred to as “lateral members 321”). In accordancewith embodiments and, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the central member 320has an elongate body with a generally polygonal cross-sectional shapeand the lateral members 321 may be provided on either lateral side ofthe central member 320 and may have semi-hemispherical cross-sectionalshapes. In accordance with further embodiments the lateral members 321may be integrally connected to the lateral sides of the central member320 such that the lateral members 321 define oppositely facing shouldersurfaces 322, which are adjacent to the central member 320. Thedistribution rails 50 may be respectively supportable on the shouldersurfaces 322.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the power converter 40 isgenerally disposed in the movable base portion 31 and, in accordancewith embodiments, may be disposed in the central hub 310. The powerconverter 40 may be provided as an AC to DC transformer 400 and includesfirst leads 401 and second leads 402. The first leads electricallycouple the transformer 400 to each of the distribution rails 50 and thesecond leads may be provided as a single wire and plug that isconnectable to a wall outlet, such as a standard 110 or 220 volt ACoutlet. Thus, when the transformer 400 is plugged in and electricallycoupled to the distribution rails 50, the distribution rails 50 carry DCcurrent along their respective lengths in a closed circuit in serieswith the transformer 400.

The distribution rails 50 may include a first distribution rail 501 anda second distribution rail 502. The first distribution rail 501 includesan electrically conductive strip that serves as a positive DC currentline and extends along a length of the upper portion 32 from one of thefirst leads 401 of the power converter 40. The second distribution rail502 similarly includes an electrically conductive strip that serves as anegative DC current line and extends along the length of the upperportion 32 toward the other of the first leads 401. In accordance withembodiments and, as shown in FIG. 4, the first distribution rail 501 hasa rectangular cross-sectional shape and is supported on the shouldersurface 322 of one of the lateral members 321 and the proximal portionof the near side of the central member 320 and the second distributionrail 502 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and is supported on theshoulder surface 322 of the other of the lateral members 321 and theproximal portion of the near side of the central member 320.

The clamping element 60 includes a hinged clamp 61 and a connector 62.The hinged clamp 61 may be provided with a clamshell structure 610 thatis configured to be tightened onto and thus attached to thenon-conductive support element 30 at an attachment point, which isdefined along any portion of the length of the non-conductive supportelement 30. The connector 62 is configured to be selectively actuatedsuch that DC power is selectively transmittable to the corresponding IVdevice 20 from the power converter 40 via the distribution rails 50.

With continued reference to FIG. 5 and with additional reference toFIGS. 6-8, the clamshell structure 610 of the hinged clamp 61 mayinclude first and second clamshell portions 611 and 612, a hinge 613(see FIG. 8) by which the first and second clamshell portions 61 and 612are pivotably coupled to one another, a fastening element 614 and aplunger 615. The first and second clamshell portions 611 and 612 eachhave an exterior surface of variable shape and a concave interiorsurface that is configured to fit around the lateral members 321 atfirst and second sides of the non-conductive support element 30,respectively.

In accordance with embodiments and, as shown in FIG. 5, the firstclamshell portion 611 may include a first end 616 to which the hinge 613is coupled, a second end 617, a body 618 integrally interposed betweenthe first and second ends 616 and 617 and a first flange 619. The body618 includes the concave interior surface that fits around thecorresponding one of the lateral members 321 and may be separated fromthe corresponding one of the lateral members 321 at a variable distance.In accordance with further embodiments, the second clamshell portion 612may include a first end 620 to which the hinge 613 is coupled, a secondend 621, a body 622 integrally interposed between the first and secondends 620 and 621 and a second flange 623. The body 622 includes theconcave interior surface that fits around the corresponding one of thelateral members 321 and may be separated from the corresponding one ofthe lateral members 321 at a variable distance. The first flange 619extends radially inwardly from a distal edge of the first end 616 towardthe second distribution rail 502 and the second flange 623 extendsradially inwardly from a distal ends of the second end 621 toward thefirst distribution rail 501.

The fastening element 614 may be configured to draw the first and secondclamshell portions 611 and 612 toward one another about the hinge 613 ina tightening direction relative to the first and second sides of thenon-conductive support element 30. To this end, the fastening element614 may include first threaded portion 624, second threaded portion 625and screw element 626. The first threaded portion 624 has interiorthreading and resides in the second end 617 of the first clamshellportion 611 and the second threaded portion 625 has interior threadingand resides in the second end 621 of the second clamshell portion 612.The screw element 626 has exterior threading and is insertible throughthe second ends 617 and 621 to threadably engage with the first andsecond threaded portions 624 and 625.

During an assembly operation of the apparatus 10, an IV device 20 may besupportively attached to the hinged clamp 61 and the hinged clamp 61 maybe slid up and down the non-conductive support element 30 to anylocation. Once the hinged clamp 61 is disposed at a desired location,the screw second element 626 can be inserted into the second ends 617and 621 and rotated in a tightening direction to clamp the hinged clamp61 in place at the location. During a disassembly operation, the screwelement 626 is rotated in a loosening direction in order to release thehinged clamp 61 and the IV device 20 from the desired location on thenon-conductive support element 30.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the plunger 615 is configured toselectively electrically couple the connector 62 to at least one of thedistribution rails 50 (e.g., to the first distribution rail 501) and mayinclude a body 627, which is formed to define a through-hole 628 throughwhich the screw element 626 is extendable, and a conductive element 629that wraps around an end of the body 627. The plunger 615 is extendablethrough a through-hole 630 (see FIG. 7) defined in the second end 621 ofthe second clamshell portion 612 proximate to and substantially inparallel with the second flange 623 such that the conductive element 629faces the first distribution rail 501. Thus, once the hinged clamp 61 istightened onto the non-conductive support element 30 at the desiredlocation, the plunger 615 can be selectively pushed by an operator in aradially inward direction toward the first distribution rail 501 untilthe conductive element 629 makes electrical contact with the firstdistribution rail 501.

In accordance with embodiments, it is to be understood that the plunger615 may be spring-loaded and lockable. In such cases, the spring-loadingof the plunger 615 will normally bias the plunger 615 away from anelectrical contact location whereby a user must overcome the bias inorder to push the plunger 615 toward the first distribution rail 501. Alocking mechanism would then maintain the plunger 615 in place at leastuntil the plunger 615 is selectively withdrawn or the hinged clamp 61 isloosened and released from the non-conductive support element 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the connector 62 may include a plug 631, which isinsertible into the IV device 20, wiring lines 632, 633. The wiringlines 632, 633 are configured to be electrically coupled to thedistribution rails 50. In accordance with embodiments, wiring line 632may run through the first ends 616 and 620 of the first and secondclamshell portions 611 and 612 to make contact with the seconddistribution rail 502 and wiring line 633 may run through the second end621 of the second clamshell portion 612. This wiring line 633 will thenmake electrical contact with the conductive element 629 such that, whenthe plunger 615 is pushed toward the first distribution rail 501, theconductive element 629 electrically couples the wiring line 633 to thefirst distribution rail 501.

With reference to FIG. 9, the apparatus 10 may be provided in ahospital, for example, to permit multiple IV devices 20 to receive powerin the form of DC from the above-described distribution rails 50 withthe apparatus 10 as a whole including only a single plug by whichcurrent is transmitted to the distribution rails 50 via the powerconverter 40. As such, should the apparatus 10 need to be moved fromlocation A (in the foreground of FIG. 9) to location B (in thebackground of FIG. 9), the operator need only remove the single plugfrom its outlet before initiating the movement and is only required toplug in the single plug at the destination. Thus, movement of theapparatus 10 is easy and can be executed with minimal time spent withthe IV devices 20 un-powered or battery-powered.

With reference to FIG. 10, an IV device transportation apparatus powersystem 100 (hereinafter referred to as a “power system 100”) is providedand includes features that are similar to those described above anddifferent from those described above. In the former case, furtherdetailed descriptions of similar features will not be necessary with thefollowing description relating only to the different features.

As shown in FIG. 10, the power system 100 includes a floor 101, which inturn includes embedded power distribution elements 102, one or more IVdevices 103 that are operable when supplied with power, a non-conductivesupport element 104 similar to the non-conductive support element 30, areceiver 105, distribution rails 106, and a clamping element 107 that issimilar to the clamping element 60. The embedded power distributionelements 102 may include, for example, radio frequency (RF) transmittersby which electrical power is transmittable over a certain range ofdistances. The receiver 105 is disposed in the base portion of thenon-conductive support element 104 to be receptive of power from thepower distribution elements 102 and the distribution rails 106 arerespectively electrically coupled to the receiver 105 and disposed alonga length of the upper portion non-conductive support element 104.

In accordance with embodiments, the embedded power distribution elements102 are arranged in the floor 101 such that, as the base portion of thenon-conductive support element 104 is moved along the floor 101 within apredefined track, the receiver 105 remains within range of at least oneof the embedded power distribution elements 102. Thus, the power system100 is configured to provide power for the IV devices 103 as thenon-conductive support element 104 is moved from location A (in theforeground of FIG. 10) to location B (in the background of FIG. 10) evenif the non-conductive support element 104 is not plugged into a walloutlet at either location.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an intravenous (IV) devicetransportation apparatus power system, the method comprising: clamping ahinged clamp, on which IV devices are supported, to a non-conductivesupport element; embedding power distribution elements in a floor;receiving power for operating the IV devices in the non-conductivesupport element; and distributing and selectively transmitting thereceived power to the IV devices along the non-conductive supportelement.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingtransmitting radio frequency (RF) radiation from the power distributionelements.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingarranging the power distribution elements in the floor such that thereceiving continues as the non-conductive support element is moved alongthe floor.